Supreme Court ruling ushers in a new era of gerrymandering
Summary
The Supreme Court recently ruled that creating majority-Black voting districts in Louisiana is illegal, making it harder to draw election maps based on race. This decision reflects the Court's view that using race in drawing districts is unconstitutional, but political considerations are allowed.Key Facts
- The Voting Rights Act was signed by President Lyndon Johnson 61 years ago to stop barriers preventing Black Americans from voting.
- The Act followed long struggles and violence against Black voters, including events like "Bloody Sunday" in 1965.
- The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Louisiana lawmakers cannot draw a Congressional district based mainly on race.
- This ruling limits the ability to create districts designed to ensure racial representation.
- The Court’s conservative majority, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, has increasingly ruled against race-based policies.
- Justice Samuel Alito wrote that using race in districting is unconstitutional, but political reasons for map drawing are allowed.
- Congressman Cleo Fields said the ruling affects the chance for people of color to serve in Congress.
- Conservative lawyer Hans von Spakovsky supports these rulings, saying racial discrimination should be stopped and that political competition is a normal part of elections.
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